Defending against laws which threaten user freedom

As our mission here at the Free Software Foundation is to promote computer user freedom and to defend the rights of all free software users, we also have to defend against ill-conceived and misguided laws. Many of you may already be aware of an international trade agreement being negotiated by the G8 nations called ACTA, but another law known as the Digital Economy Act is of concern, specifically to citizens of the UK.

We have already published a petition condemning ACTA on a number of specific grounds which we urge you to sign if you haven't already. If you would like to know more, please read the rationale for this declaration. Right now, you can take action!

US citizens:

Public Knowledge has a form allowing you to send a letter to President Obama along with the United States Trade Representative and the office of the Vice President to express your concerns with ACTA. Since ACTA is being very secretively drafted and being pushed as an "executive agreement" rather than a treaty, Congressional approval is not needed for it to be put into effect and there is little to make it publicly accountable.

UK citizens:

A law called the Digital Economy Act which was heavily lobbied for in the financial interest of certain corporations has already been passed. This law forces Internet service providers (ISPs) to be police for these corporations, and while they are the ones who would be required to enforce this Act, they were not consulted in its passing.

If you are a UK citizen, please help repeal this law. The new UK Government has launched a website called "Your Freedom", that they are billing as a, "chance to tell us which laws and regulations you think we should get rid
of". Please rate the repeal the Digital Economy Act 5 stars out of 5 and add a comment supporting repeal of this unjust law.